Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concernsStudents benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Two women say they were targeted by scam artists who were looking to steal their hearts and money on popular dating site, Match.com. Nancy Mullen joined Match.com earlier this year and says she was looking for love and adventure. Her chances at finding Mr. Right looked great when dozens of suitors approached her on the same the day she joined. “I was looking for someone to do things with. Someone I could hang around with. The day I joined I was inundated with men trying to reach out,” she said. One of those men was Michael who told Mullen he was a contractor in Malaysia. “He was saying all the things I wanted to hear,” Mullen said. “We went back and forth probably once and then he told me that just from my picture and profile, I was the one and that he was going to take his profile down.” Mullen and Michael began to text. She said Match.com warns about reaching out to dates outside the service. That was the first red flag. Another woman, Mary, also had red flags. She joined Match.com and met a man, another contractor who told her his name was Christopher. They, too, began to talk through text and email messages. Mary said the conversations became strange. “I said I liked the Eagles. All of a sudden he said he liked the Eagles. ‘What kind of music do you like?’ I’d name a few. ‘Oh they are really good. I like them, too,'” Mary said. “There’s too many similarities. All of a sudden he liked people I liked.” Second red flag. Still, Mary thought it was nice to connect with a person. Christopher went as far as to say he became a widower around the same time she had lost her own husband. Within two weeks, Christopher told Mary he was moving to Nigeria. Third red flag. He had a bid for a contracting job, he told her. “And that’s when he started: he needed money. He had to have this equipment so he could finish this job,” Mullen said he told her. Christopher asked Mary for $2,500. She did not have the money and told him she was moving on. “I would never ask someone I never met ‘Can I have $2500?'” Mary said. “I said ‘I am done with this.’ He said ‘Oh no, it’s not just the money. I really love you. I want to keep seeing you. I can’t wait to be home.'” But Mary never met Christopher. Meanwhile, Mullen’s man Michael began breaking out the messages for money. “He sent me an email one morning saying ‘I just had the worst day. You aren’t going to believe this. I just went to pick up my last set of materials to finish this job at customs and, my darling, my wallet was missing. All my money, my credit cards, and the picture that I carry of you,'” Mary said. “Told me it was $16,000 he needed.” Michael called Mullen, but she refused to send him cash. “I hung up on him and sent him an email saying I wasn’t an idiot and to never contact me again,” Mullen said. Neither Mary nor Mullen sent the men on Match.com money. Mullen reached out to Match.com and reported her scammer. Michael was removed from the site and she was awarded a partial refund, representatives said. The online dating site has a fraud team who blocks suspected scammers. They also attach a reminder about avoiding scammers and sending money on users’ email exchanges. Match.com also has a section devoted to dating safety tips. Mary and Mullen said a warning is not enough. They would like to see better screening. “I know they probably have thousands of people on there, but there’s got to be a better system,” Mary said. The website says Match.com “does not inquire into the backgrounds of all of its members or attempt to verify the statements of its members.” While some states have bills to regulate online dating, most laws do not require websites to provide a criminal background check. Florida lawmakers introduced a similar bill this year but it did not pass.